243 PSALMS 120–136 : SONGS GREAT FESTIVAL FOR A or features of them may be found. Ps 120,1 and Ps 129,1-4 recall the Individual Songs of Thanksgiving; Ps 126,4 would fit into a Collective Song of Prayer; Psalm 130 resembles, in some degree, an Individual Song of Prayer. But none of the traditional types is there in authentic or complete representation. Also, apart from Psalm 132, the texts are much shorter than psalms on average. Numerically they are a tenth part of the Psalter, in total length less than a twentieth. So far, formal aspects of the texts have been considered. Two features seem to be typical of their content. First, there is a notable preference for scenes from daily life: slaves watching their master’s gesture (Ps 123) ; people sowing and reaping (Ps 126) ; men discussing at the city gate (Ps 127) ; children sitting around the table (Ps 128) ; an infant at rest with its mother (Ps 131). Secondly, some terms, relevant to the community and its well- being, are found in remarkable frequency: “Israel” nine times (and that in eight psalms), “Zion” seven times (seven psalms), “ Jerusalem ” five times (three psalms), “bless” / “blessing” (Èrb pi., pu. / hkrb) nine times (five psalms), “peace” (μwlv) seven times (four psalms) 12. 2. Songs of Ascents Obviously, given the special character of Psalms 120-134, it is important to understand the term heading them, twl[mh ryv (once twl[ml ryv) 13. The following interpretations may rank as the most important 14. In the Book of Psalms as a whole (about 23 times the size of Pss 120- 12 134) “Israel” is found 62 times (38 psalms), “Zion” 38 times (31 psalms), “ Jerusalem ” 17 times (11 psalms), Èrb pi., pu. / hkrb 63 times (38 psalms), μwlv 27 times (19 psalms). Because twl[mh ryv can be taken as “Songs of the twl[m” (see Ps 137,3 ; 13 also Mishnah Sukkah 5,4), the title may originally have related to the collection as a whole. Later on then, when the collection was incorporated in the psalter, the title was added to the separate psalms. Cf. W. GESENIUS – E. KAUTZSCH, Hebräische Grammatik (Leipzig 281909) § 124r, 127e. For more data see L.D. CROW, The Songs of Ascents (Psalms 120-134). 14 Their Place in Israelite History and Religion (Atlanta, GA 1996) 3-25; M.D. GOULDER, The Psalms of the Return (Book V Psalms 107-150) (JSOTSS , 258 ; Sheffield 1998) 20-24.